The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1887-12-24
Letter from the Southwest.

other Southwestern States, l will
give them through the columns of
The REPUBLICAN a little informa-
ton gathered by personal observa-
ton:
l left Oakland Noy. 18th, and
arrived in GAINESVILLE. Texas, a dis
lance of l 400 miles, in so hours. En-.
tering the Indian Territory in the
Northeast part, l saw fine herds of
fat cattle grazing on the prairies, with
an abundance of hay ricks to provide
provender for rough weather. The
country is vast rolling prairie, in
terspersed occasionally with streams
of water, skirted with narrow belts
of timber, Further South the land
is not so good as evidenced by poor
cattle and "razor back" hogs. A few
farms are opened up in the Territory.
Some think the Territory will be
opened up for settlement in the near
future. The propriety of keeping
such vast territory subject simply
to the occupancy of rowing saYages
may we'll be questioned. There are
three railroads built through the Ter
ritory, and the fourth now under
construction. The Territory, as a
whole, is nice country, but l think
it is greatly over-rated.
Arriving in Texas we see maple
and other varieties of timber on
streams. with green foliage, slightly
touched by frost. Gainesville, the
county seat of Cooke county, is a
booming city of $4,000 inhabitants,
with two railroads. good churches
and school houses, fine business blocks
and handsome residences. The schools
are open from six to nine months.
There is more good land in Cooke
county than any other county that l
have visited. Wild land sells at So
to $40 per acre, and improved at $50
to S25. Cotton is king in this county,
but other crops do well with
the exception of Irish potatoes,
cabbage and apples. Peaches and
sweet potatoes grow very large.
Wheat looks we'll. The drouth has
interfered with crops for the past two
years. Cattle raising is also one of
the leading industries. But little
rough iced is required for winter.
Yearlings sell at IS, two-year-olds at
S14, and three-year-olds at $40. The
next county we visited was Monta-
que. The land in this county is gen.
orally broken by abrupt bluffs. The
bottom land is very fertile. The high
land is mostly used for grazing.
Price of land, $2, S., $40 and 500 per
acre.
In Clay, Wichita and Archer coun-
ties we find high, rolling prairie. the
land being a red sandy loan. The
streams are lined with timber, con-
sisting of blackberry, white elm. slip
perry elm, post oak, sycamore and
pecan. This part of Texas is more
subject to drouth than further east. |
ate some water melon in Clay county
on the 25th of November. 1 have
not seen any timothy or clover in
the State. There is immense guam
titles of land for sale in these coun-
ties at So to So per acre, One-fourth
down and the balance in annual in
stallments. at 8 per cent. interest.
The principal industry is stock rails
ing. Five hundred cattle is consid-
cred small lot. The grass is short,
cures on the ground and makes good
winter range.
Texas people are misrepresented in
the East. They are generous. heart
ed people as 1 ever met. 1 have
been with the "Cow-Boys" on the
rancho and dined with them, and
they showed the greatest hospitality.
1t is fact that the people in Texas
sometimes make target of each 9TH
er, but murders are generally COM
mitted by persons under the influ-
ence of liquor. fla person will keep
clear of saloons and attend to his own
business, his life will be as secure in
Texas as anywhere else.
There is no homestead lands in the
State. The public lands are all State
school lands, and may be had at 50 to
81 per acre, with twenty years in
which to pay for it, with 5 per. cent
interest. 1t may be paid for in five
years and a deed obtained, but no
sooner.
1t is my opinion that no man can
make living in Texas by tilling the
soil exclusively. Ifthe seasons were
favorable it might be done, but there
is no telling what season may bring
forth. With $40 acres and only farm
a little and raise stock / think one
could do well. A man with S. 900 or
$4,000 can do better here than in the
East.
This part of Texas is generally
4. 4 a.